Gab Sutton's EFL Championship 1-24 Season Predictions 25/26
Gab Sutton 
Two down, and now it's time for the big one, as we've got Gab Sutton's Championship predictions for the 25/26 season.
Gab has been here with us on Free Bets all week, delivering his now famous 1-24 articles, and today sees the final ones released.
If you'd like to catch up on the first two, check them out below, or read on to see his verdict on the Championship!
1. Ipswich Town
This summer represents the start of the second chapter of the romance that Ipswich Town and Kieran McKenna are building together.
The first stage was thrilling and mesmerising, as The Tractor Boys enjoyed a meteoric journey from being 10th in League One in 2021-22, to beating Chelseaโs two-billion-pound squad in the Premier League three years later, either side of back-to-back promotions.
Relegation from the top flight, largely due to financial limitations - although there may also be some lessons to take forward - has given way to the commitment stage.
Some of the novelty might have worn off, but McKenna has shown his intentions by politely declining the interest of others, especially last summer, as they continue to build on stable foundations, towards long-term plans that look pretty serious.
The Suffolkians have a fantastic ownership regime, of Gamechanger Ltd, and a great chairman in Mark Ashton (yes, you heard us, Bristol City fans), with the club investing significantly in infrastructure, and Ed Sheeran also involved.
Town have also assembled a true Championship A-Team with, if Sam Morsy moves to Kuwait SC as expected, at least 20 top-end players for this level; two for every position, bar a couple, with over five weeks to go before the window shuts.
Whatโs more, theyโll likely have the budget to make big signings in those extra couple of positions, with Omari Hutchinsonโs ยฃ35M release clause triggered by Brentford, prompting an expectation that the attacking midfielder will depart.
So, broadly, Ipswich retain the influential first-teamers from their 2023-24 promotion-winning squad: solid right-back Harry Clarke, towering centre-back Luke Woolfenden, flying left-back Leif Davis, industrious winger Wes Burns, goalscoring #10 Conor Chaplin, inside forward Nathan Broadhead and selfless front-man George Hirst.
Theyโve rejuvenated that group, too, in previous windows, with dependable goalkeeper Alex Palmer, reliable centre-backs Dara OโShea and Jacob Greaves, withdrawn forward Sammie Szmodics and winger Jack Clarke all expected to feature heavily this year.
And, in this window, Cรฉdric Kiprรฉ arrives on loan from Reims to join Woolfenden as competition for OโShea and Greaves, while Azor Matusiwa joins from Rennes to bring athleticism, out-of-possession solidity and progressive passing to central midfield.
Meanwhile, talents like left-footed technician Cameron Humphreys and athletic striker Ali Al-Hamadi are another year on in their developments, with the former having a positive League One loan with Wycombe, and the latter gaining valuable Championship experience at Stoke.
On top of that, wide forward Jaden Philogene was one of the most enterprising players in the Championship, when fit, at Hull in 2023-24, and could come alive in the right system.
So, this is a club thatโs earnt loads of trust, that has a fantastic infrastructure, a brilliant Championship squad, and a manager in Kieran McKenna with elite potential.
Theyโve fallen in love in mysterious ways, and the results could be ominous for the rest.
*Since the Championship odds were released by UK betting sites, Ipswich have been at the front of the market, and are Gab's prediction to win the league this season.
2. Birmingham City
Tom Wagner and Knighthead have reignited a fire inside Birmingham City.
For over a decade, the embers had been dying through a lack of transparency, poor recruitment and infrastructural neglect, dating back to the day in 2009, that David Sullivan sold the club down the river to Carson Yeung.
So, when Knighthead took over from Birmingham Sports Holdings in 2023, Wagner did more for the club almost on day one than had been done in the intervening 14 years.
As such, while his first season as owner resulted in relegation, due to a managerial wrong-turn, last seasonโs League One title win was almost as unsurprising as it was delightful.
Bluesโ spending power was undoubtedly a major factor behind their crowning as third-tier champions, but to smash the Football League points record with 111, needed a few extra ingredients.
So, while Chris Davies might be judged by outsiders on what he can do on the more level playing field of the Championship, the overwhelming evidence thus far is that he was an unbelievable appointment.
The 40-year-old applied all the coaching expertise heโs learnt from Brendan Rodgers and others to stamp a clear identity on his team right from the get-go, whilst changing the mentality of the club with his ambition, confidence and drive.
So, Birmingham approach a Championship season with greater confidence than theyโve had in any of the previous 13 and, when you look at their squad, they have every reason to.
Attacking right-back Ethan Laird, Rolls-Royce centre-half Christoph Klarer, delightful midfield technicians, Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-Ho, and athletic forward Jay Stansfield remain, after starring in League One.
True, Stansfield might not have scored as many open play goals (10) as he would have wanted, but he also didnโt have much space to get in behind against deep-blocks at that level, whereas the Championship could play into his strengths.
That quality quintet has been added to with seven new additions, thus far, including goalkeeper James Beadle, who joins on loan from Brighton to compete with Ryan Allsop, who has excellent distribution, and got better and better as last season went on.
Bright Osayi-Samuel was a winger at Blackpool and QPR, but has reinvented himself at Fenerbahรงe as an attacking right-back, and should provide great competition for Laird.
Quick, strong, tall Phil Neumann, who joins from Hannover 96, could operate as the right-sided centre-back, with Klarer, who isnโt as quick, moving to the left, but effectively the middle of an in-possession back-three, to the right of consistent left-back Alex Cochrane.
Elsewhere, all-action #8 Tommy Doyle signs on loan from Wolves to push Paik and Iwata, while Demarai Gray returns to bring searing pace in attack.
In the South Asian market, which Blues have explored to great success of late, Kanya Fujimoto joins from Gil Vicente to bring the flair, while fellow Japanese recruit Kyลgo Furuhashi explained what heโll bring to St Andrews succinctly enough himself: goals.
It could be a challenge for Davies to work out the best way of incorporating Furuhashi and Stansfield simultaneously, with a front-two unlikely - meaning one could be out wide, as a second striker, or on the bench.
Then again, that faint sense of jeopardy will only add to the intensity of competition: the bar has been raised again, theyโve bought when theyโre strong, reinforcing the message that nobody in the squad can afford to rest on their laurels.
With that in mind, weโre looking at one of the most exciting eras in Birmingham Cityโs entire history, and back-to-back promotions feels a distinct possibility, one the hierarchy have done little to downplay.
Fans agree. Previously, you could buy a Season Ticket any time and, as local comedian Jasper Carrott once joked, youโd talk to the person next to you by shouting โOI!โ.
This year, on the other hand, 32K people applied for Season Tickets, with 12K missing out: the demand, and the demands, are huge in equal measure.
*Gathering plenty of attention, after waltzing through League One the latest Championship betting odds put Birmingham amongst the favourites to make it back to back promotions.
3. Southampton
Itโs been some fall from grace for Southampton, under Sport Republic.
Since Dragan ล olak took over as owner in January 2022, the Saints have suffered two Premier League relegations in their three full seasons in power, having previously been an established, well-run Premier League club.
Sport Republic initially claimed that they would be keeping those foundations in place, but theyโve turned out to do quite the opposite, with plenty of dependable, long-serving staff exiting the club.
Meanwhile, recruitment has been poor, with Romeo Lavia and Matheus Fernandes being the only obvious success stories in those three years, while numerous mistakes have been made in the managerial department.
After 2022-23โs drop to the Championship, Russ Martin led the club to an instant return, but then wasnโt correctly supported in the subsequent transfer window, especially after experienced DoF Jason Wilcox left for Manchester United.
As such, Martin has since stated that mistakes were made in terms of not adding enough athleticism to the side to cope with the step up, but it was gross negligence on the clubโs part not to surround him with people who could have known what survival would take.
So, with local patience running thin, the pressure is all on Sport Republic, ahead of their fourth season at the helm, and theyโve placed their faith in head coach Will Still, poached from RC Lens.
Although Still hasnโt previously worked in England (other than as PNE U14s assistant at 17), he is a familiar name in the English media, due to his unique coaching journey, his age, and the 14-game unbeaten run with which he began his tenure at Reims.
While itโs still to be revealed, how much of the attention on him is due to his unusual profile, and how much of it is down to his objective ability โ for somebody who hasnโt necessarily achieved anything groundbreaking just yet - all the signs point towards a coach of immense potential.
Still looks to be extremely detail-driven in his work, and very adaptable: he can find a strategy that suits the players he has available, and wonโt hesitate to step in early on, to tweak something, in a game that isnโt going his sideโs way.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old likes his sides to be very aggressive against the ball, with well-coordinated pressing a prominent feature of his management.
With that in mind, it looks a good appointment but, for a team thatโs just lost 30 games in the Premier League last season, exceeding 2007-08 Derbyโs record low total by a mere point, thereโs also a lot of work ahead.
Southampton are expecting to lose at least two of star goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, key attacking midfielder Matheus Fernandes and wide prodigy Tyler Dibling this summer, possibly for a combined nine figures, although they may not have lots of time to use that money in this window.
In the meantime, they do have 12 of the 17 players who featured in more than half their league games in the promotion campaign.
Of those, ball-playing centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis, defensive leader Jack Stephens, driven left-back Ryan Manning, tidy midfielder Flynn Downes and top goalscorer Adam Armstrong were especially valued for their contributions, and could thrive at this level again.
Meanwhile, classy defender Ronnie Edwards and holding midfielder Shea Charles look more than ready, after excellent loans at this level with QPR and Sheffield Wednesday.
Theyโve added to the group, too, with quick, tall centre-back Joshua Quarshie and forward Damion Downs hitching up on the south coast, while there should be a late flurry of activity after sales go through.
So, itโs a big rebuilding job for Will Still, and a lot of pressure on Sport Republic.
With the correct remaining additions, however, they should be in the mix.
4. Coventry City
Ironically, for a club that suffered the biggest upheaval in the Championship in November, Coventry begin 2025-26 with the greatest advantage in terms of continuity.
Frank Lampard controversially replaced a club legend in Mark Robins, with the latterโs exit prompting an initial backlash yet, from then, the Sky Blues accrued more points than anybody remaining in the second-tier, who has the same manager in charge.
Of the favourites, bar Ipswich, Cov arguably face the fewest question marks, have the highest floor, and could be in the best position to hit the ground running.
Depending on departures, theyโve got eight players in their best XI who look good enough to start for a top two side, which is a fantastic starting point.
Namely, attacking full-back Milan van Ewijk, his right wing-man Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, aerial centre-back Bobby Thomas, midfield all-rounder Ben Sheaf, playmaker Matt Grimes, energetic attacking midfielder Jack Rudoni, and mobile forwards Ephron Mason-Clark and Haji Wright.
Plus, theyโve pre-empted the possible loss of van Ewijk, whoโs flamed transfer speculation by switching agency this summer, by signing Kaine Kesler-Hayden from Aston Villa, after the 22-year-old won Player of the Year at Preston North End.
So, those eight areas look great, and technical left-back Jay da Silva could play himself into that category if he can build on his form at the back-end of last season, as the signing of a back-up left-back in Miguel รngel Brau from Granada suggests heโll be trusted to do.
What might define Coventryโs top two chances, then, is the quality of the remaining additions in goal, in central defence, and up top.
Goalkeeper Brad Collins finished 2024-25 in poor form, Ben Wilson is an excellent understudy but wouldnโt be considered a top-end Championship performer, necessarily, while Oliver Dovin will miss the first half of the season.
So, itโs a matter of whether Lampard is prepared to risk rocking the boat by bringing in a fourth senior goalkeeper, which feels somewhat excessive by normal standards, or whether Wilson will be trusted to keep the gloves warm.
In defence, meanwhile, Luis Binks is a stunning, 10/10 pinger of a pass, and would be an 8/10 Championship footballer if his actual defending could get to a mere 6/10 - right now heโs a 3 or 4/10 defender, which limits his overall score to a 5 or a 6.
So, if Coventry can either somehow tighten up on Binksโ meat-and-potatoes stuff, this summer, or recruit somebody of similar ability with a slightly more rugged edge, they have the ideal partner for Thomas.
Up top, it hasnโt quite worked out with Ellis Simms, Brandon Thomas-Asante or Norman Bassette, yet, but maybe Wright represents a suitable in-house solution.
The 27-year-old was recruited to be a winger, in 2023, but he scored eight goals in 10 games down the middle last season, including a hat-trick against Sunderland in March, thriving on the advanced creativity of Victor Torp.
Plus, playing Wright centrally would also allow Lampard to incorporate Mason-Clark, who enjoyed some tremendous performances on the left last season, especially around the start of his managerโs reign.
So, keep everyone fit and Coventry are tantalizingly close to a top two standard best XI, as well as a versatile, reliable squad player in Josh Eccles - and thatโs with just two senior signings.
Thereโs talent coming through the academy, too, with athletic forward Justin Obikwu returning from his loans at Grimsby highly regarded, and a Wales U21s prospect in energetic midfielder Kai Andrews.
With that in mind, Coventry should be comfortably in the top six this season, keeping the automatics within their sights.
*As short at 5/2 for promotion in places, but 9/2 with Betway to go up with Frank Lampard. Known for offering excellent football betting markets, we've got a full Betway review detailing everything they have on offer.
5. Sheffield United
Sheffield United have had a summer of double heartache.
The Blades lost the Championship Play-Off Final to Sunderland - having led, and had one goal that would have made it 2-0 disallowed by VAR - courtesy of a Tommy Watson strike in the last minute.
Then, the board parted company with legendary manager Chris Wilder, somebody with whom the fanbase had a unique affinity, over differences around recruitment processes.
So, there could have been a hangover for supporters from Wembley, at the start of this season, but there most definitely will be from losing Wilder on top of that.
Therefore, there may be slightly more onus on his replacement, Rubรฉn Sellรฉs, and the players, to give Blades something to shout about at the start of this season, as opposed to momentum coming the other way around.
With that in mind, thereโs mild encouragement to be taken from a pre-season campaign that, thus far, suggests a team thatโs absorbed Sellรฉsโ ideas early on, with 6-2 and 5-0 victories over York and Rotherham.
And, while key man Vinรญcius Souza has gone to Wolfsberg for ยฃ15M, other top-end Championship players remain - for now.
Namely, star goalkeeper Michael Cooper, progressive centre-back Anel Ahmedhodลพiฤ, attacking left-back Harrison Burrows, key creator Gus Hamer, the skilful ball of energy that is Callum OโHare, selfless forward Tyrese Campbell, and midfielders Oli Arblaster and Sydie Peck.
With Arblaster looking a potential future captain, bringing real destructive qualities that should suit Sellรฉsโ pressing style, and Peck offering more progressive qualities like ball-carrying, itโs a great starting point.
Sellรฉs has added to the group that accumulated 92 points last season, too, by loaning talented centre-back Tyler Bindon from Nottingham Forest, after working with the Kiwi at Reading.
The Portuguese coach has a great reputation for improving young players through good people skills and detailed technical work, so we could see progress from the likes of attacking right-back Femi Seriki, attacking midfielder Owen Hampson, wingers Jefferson Cรกceres and Ehije Ukaki, plus forwards Ryan Onรฉ and Louie Marsh.
Optimistically, then thereโs a world in which Sellรฉsโ excellent coaching ability shines through, after a full pre-season to work with his players, with performances that lift Bramall Lane and leave the summer heartaches confined to the past.
Pessimistically, thereโs also a world in which some of the players arenโt naturally suited to the Portuguese coachโs high-pressing template, given that heโs only had one window and, up to the penultimate friendly, signed just one player whoโs expected to impact the XI straight away.
In that instance, a slow start could see Wilderโs ardent advocates in the home support growing restless and possibly comparing records. That, in turn, may cause a mild split among the fanbase between those who want to move on, and those who still feel understandably aggrieved.
After all, for fans who donโt feel like those running their football club are reflecting their desires in their decision-making, thatโs not always an easy thing to simply accept for the lifeblood of the club.
So, either scenario is possible, but on balance the picture remains reasonably positive.
Sellรฉs has shown admirable diplomacy in previous situations, which could help him navigate the political challenges, while the quality in this squad should see United through to a top six finish.
*Falling at the final hurdle last season, can Sheffield United go one better? The latest football betting odds put them amongst the favourites to avenge their Wembley defeat to Sunderland.
6. Millwall
Millwall seem to have struck upon a solution to their own unique quandary.
The Lions have a strong cultural heritage of having physical, aggressive, direct sides that make The Den, old or new, an intimidating place for opponents to visit, creating a siege mentality that can allow them to outperform expectation.
As much as those principles have given them some massive strengths, which have contributed to six top half Championship finishes on a bottom-eight budget in the last eight seasons, it also has limitations, especially from a developmental perspective.
The South Bermondsey outfit donโt have a huge amount of external investment, relative to the league; they didnโt under the late, great, John Berylson, who gave the club great stability, and they donโt, now, under his son, James.
With that in mind, theyโve had to get better at generating saleable assets, although the ยฃ12M sale of Romain Esse to Crystal Palace, with potential add-ons, was a sizeable step in the right direction.
The traditional Millwall way isnโt entirely conducive to developing lots of players, like Esse, that Premier League clubs are likely to want.
Then again, straying too far from those values can be dangerous as well, as we saw in Joe Edwardsโ ill-fated 10-week stint in 2023-24, which seemed to go against the clubโs grain.
Supporters might argue that their club wasnโt conceived on the dockyards of East London in 1885 with the core vision of pandering to global corporations, but theyโve also got to be mindful of where the money is, in a stretched economic climate.
So, theyโve hit the sweet spot on the nose with Alex Neil: the Scot is honest and direct in a way that supporters will like, without playing to the crowd too much, but heโs also shown an aptitude for developing young players in his tenures at Aberdeen and Preston North End.
So, the exciting thing about the Lions is that, having finished 7th last season, as one of the Championshipโs form sides after Neil was appointed at the end of December, theyโve also got a huge amount of growth left in their squad.
For evidence of that, look no further than 20-year-old Mihailo Ivanovic, who scored 10 of his 12 league goals under Neil, and has every chance of being one of the divisionโs top scorers this season, rather than just Millwallโs.
Poached from Vojvodina last summer, the Serbia international can hit stunning strikes, and he can also bag diving headers from inside the six-yard box, such is the variety of his goalscoring capability.
Meanwhile, watch out for towering goalkeeper Lukas Jensen, talented left-back Zak Sturge, direct winger Aidomo Emakhu, recent England U20s attacking midfielder, Raees Bangura-Williams, and skilful Algeria U23s winger Camiel Neghli.
Elsewhere, the athletic Japhet Tanganga has been outstanding since joining from Tottenham and, even if he gets a big move later in the window, there could be a viable replacement already in the building in Tristan Crama.
Partnering either will be aerially dominant defender Jake Cooper, whoโs been a model of consistency since signing for the Lions eight years ago, and brings valuable leadership to a young squad.
Meanwhile, Casper de Norre continues to offer class and solidity at the base of midfield, alongside ball-carrier Billy Mitchell, who has a bit of the old Millwall bite about him, even if heโs been bitten himself at times by injury.
So, this is a talented squad with a handful of reliable operators and a potential golden boot winner, led by a dependable Championship manager in Alex Neil, whoโs delivered results everywhere heโs been bar Stoke.
And, if the Lions can extrapolate their form in 23 matches under Neil across double that number of games, theyโll get to 74 points, which would have sufficed for a Play-Off spot in eight of the last 13 Championship seasons.
At this rate, thereโll be more unnecessary โLโs in the terrace chants than on the form guide.
7. Leicester City
Leicesterโs problems start right at the Top.
Aiyawatt โTopโ Srivaddhanaprabha was recently confirmed as one of the five youngest billionaires in Asia, but heโs found running a football club challenging, despite some promise early in his reign, with two Premier League relegations in the last three seasons.
As much as thereโs plenty of local empathy for Aiyawatt, and the tragic circumstances in which he became chairman, thereโs also a feeling that he may have been somewhat forced into the role through circumstance before he was quite ready โ and/or without him being suited to this business in the first place.
While Top has to approve all the major decisions the club makes, he cedes a lot of day-to-day responsibility to Director of Football Jon Rudkin, with whom heโs built a great relationship over the years.
As understandable as it might be to cleave to a familiar, trusted figure who may be more knowledgeable about the ins and outs of running a football club, itโs created a dynamic in which thereโs minimal disagreement or accountability, which has in turn caused a malaise throughout the club.
In the last three years, the Foxes have made 24 signings, of which approximately 4-6 have made a reasonable contribution, and thatโs mainly based on the 2023-24 Championship title win, in which their budget dwarfed the rest of the division.
Rudkin hasnโt yet been sacked by Top for that poor recruitment, perhaps partly because of personal loyalty, and partly because he wouldnโt know quite where to turn afterwards: both reasons would be semi-understandable, yet set a worrying precedent.
That precedent has caused muddled strategies, with the absence of a clear playing identity, as the lack of leadership off the field has seeped onto it, while a points deduction is possible, with the Foxes likely to incur the penalty from the EFL that they evaded last time around.
Despite those woes, City do still have a great squad at this level, on paper, with nine of the best XI from the 2023-24 title-winning squad still at the club.
Namely, goalkeeping distributor Mads Hermansen, inverted right-back Ricardo Pereira, centre-backs Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard, athletic left-back James Justin, playmaker Harry Winks, all-action midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, left-footed winger Abdul Fatawu and wide forward Stephy Mavididi.
Plus, itโs also possible that some of the failed recruits in the Premier League might turn out to be better than expected in the Championship, due to the gulf in class between the divisions.
Somebody like progressive-yet-tenacious midfielder Oli Skipp, for instance, might only have started 10 games in the top flight last season, but he starred at this level with Norwich in 2020-21, and that was as a relative youngster, rather than at his peak as he is now.
Meanwhile, thereโs England youth prospects who could bring some fresh exuberance to the mix, like defender Ben Nelson, winger Will Alves and 16-year-old wide prodigy Jeremy Monga, who signed a new contract in June amid inevitable interest, after featuring last season.
Plus, Leicester have appointed a manager in Martรญ Cifuentes who is more than deserving of this opportunity, after doing some excellent work at QPR, showing an adaptability that van Nistelrooy hadnโt.
So, is this the season that the East Midlandersโ off-field problems really come home to roost? Or, one in which they remind everyone that they still have plenty of quality on the field, relative to Championship level?
Either could be true, but the Play-Offs feel like the realistic best-case scenario.
With a points deduction looming, and a fanbase asking the tough questions, this Championship campaign could be far tougher than the last.
8. West Bromwich Albion
The overriding emotion, at West Brom over the last 18 months, has been relief.
When Shilen Patel acquired the club in February 2024, it brought to an end Lai Guochanโs ill-fated ownership regime, and the eight years of chaos and uncertainty that went with it, with the incoming Floridian promoting values like stability, sustainability and transparency.
Patelโs actions have backed up those words, too, with the Albion steadying the off-field ship in that timeframe, with sales of key players like Alex Palmer to Ipswich helping balance the books, as the club finally gets itโs explorative ducks in a row.
Good people are now in key off-field positions: Patel as chairman, Mark Miles as Managing Director, Andrew Nestor as Sporting Director, while even Head of Football Operations, Ian Pearce, who previously took some flak for the issues under Guochan, is now believed to have been unfairly scapegoated in that period.
So, those ducks are now lined up, but theyโre yet to wind their necks up to the top of the Championship.
Historically promotion front-runners, when at this level, the Albion have finished 21 and 36 points off the top two in the last two seasons, largely due to unusually high tallies.
Then again, they did reach the Play-Offs in 2023-24 โ and looked a safe bet to finish there last season, until Carlos Corberรกn left for Valencia, and Tony Mowbray proved the wrong choice.
Now, the club are placing their faith in Ryan Mason, who hasnโt managed as a permanent number one before but has twice taken interim charge of Tottenham, and worked under the likes of Josรฉ Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Mason has all the ingredients of an exciting coach, and he inherits a good core of players: defender Torbjรธrn Heggem, technical midfielder Isaac Price, direct winger Tom Fellows, flair winger Mikey Johnson and deadly striker Josh Maja represent strong foundations.
Meanwhile, the likes of right-back Darnell Furlong, centre-back Kyle Bartley and experienced midfielder Alex Mowatt were perceived to be part of a leadership group that didnโt quite step up as hoped in the second half of last season, but any of them could resurge.
Recruits George Campbell and Nat Phillips in defence, and Aune Heggebรธ in attack, could freshen things up, while midfielder Harry Whitwell is a promising, emerging talent from within.
Nonetheless, itโs largely the same group that only won seven games after Corberรกn departed on Christmas Eve, itโs a club thatโs taking things slowly and, as much as Mason has been keen not to ask for any extra leeway because of his inexperience, itโs also a head coach whoโll be in a big learning curve.
So, if the Baggies can sustain their Play-Off bid for the duration, this time, it could be considered a step forward.
9. Norwich City
Expectations have been crystalized at Norwich City.
Former head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup was under the impression, last season, that heโd be judged largely on stylistic and developmental aspects of his work, as well as results, after he was dismissed following a 13th-place finish.
Sporting director Ben Knapper gave that stance short shrift, clarifying that top six was the target, but itโs easy to see why Thorup might have felt that way, after a summer of key departures and a youth-led transfer policy.
Either way, the fact Knapper hasnโt shied away from crystallising the ambition, means the pressure is on the new head coach, Liam Manning, to deliver, despite the loss of top goalscorer Borja Sainz and the anticipated loss of star striker Josh Sargent.
Thereโs been a subtle shift in recruitment policy to justify that ambition, away from 2024โs pursuit of prospects, although nowhere near 2022โs search for old heads; rather, a preference for near peak-age performers in their early-to-mid-20s.
So, Sporting goalkeeper Vladan Kovaฤeviฤ, towering centre-back Jakov Mediฤ, cultured defender Harry Darling and Denmark international striker Mathias Kvistgaarden are all players the club feel can come in and hit the ground running.
Itโs the same for technical midfielder Jacob Wright, who contradicts the above in terms of age, at 19, but not in the sense that heโs likely ready to deliver, having impressed on loan from Manchester City in the second half of last season.
Meanwhile, it shouldnโt be forgotten that while the recruitment policy has been altered slightly, City can still enjoy the benefits of their developmental work last season.
Steady right-back Kellen Fisher, left-sided defenders Ben Chrisene and Lucien Mahovo, plus forward-thinking midfield prospects, Oscar Schwartau and Forson Amankwah, could all be better for the opportunities they gained last season.
Itโs similar for other recruits from abroad of last summer, like powerful defender Jose Cordoba and selfless forward Ante Crnac, who may have benefited from that year to acclimatize to Championship level, stepping up from the Bulgarian top flight and Polish second-tier respectively.
Meanwhile, centre-back Brad Hills has to be considered part of the first-team squad now, after starring on loan at both Accrington Stanley and Stockport; having done it at League One level, heโs completed his loan pathway, so itโs down to the management to give him a chance.
City still have two of their most creative players from last season, too, in technical whizz Marcelino Nรบรฑez, and aggressive forward-thinker Emiliano Marcondes.
Wherever you look, this is a squad just oozing with potential, so some form of progress, from last seasonโs 13th-place finish, seems highly likely, even with key departure(s).
The big remaining question around Liam Manning, therefore - whether he can nurture young players to a really high standard at Championship level or beyond - will now be answered, one way or another.
10. Middlesbrough
As a team under Michael Carrick with very clear strengths, and equally obvious weaknesses, Middlesbroughโs hierarchy had a dilemma this summer.
To stick with Carrick would have meant, to some extent, advocating the status quo. That might have had the benefit of ensuring Boro continued to play attractive football, as a creative in-possession entity, but the risk of them lacking those extra ingredients that make a top six side.
Instead, chairman Steve Gibson and Head of Football Kieran Scot have opted to not only change head coach, but to also alter the qualities that they prioritize in that role.
As such, the Teessiders have appointed Rob Edwards, who will put a lot more emphasis than his predecessor on aggressive pressing from the front, which will demand a real focus, intensity and vigour from his players.
On the more optimistic side, this could be an extremely refreshing change - a bit like a cold shower - in which the standards are driven right up, and thereโs no hiding place for the gifted enigmas.
So, if Boro can get the estimable quality out of the likes of attacking midfield maestro Finn Azaz and skilful forward Morgan Whittaker, but with them also buying into newly-imposed off-the-ball demands, it could all come together beautifully.
And, while Azaz and Whittaker are doubts in this regard, thereโs also highly energetic players like midfield dynamo Riley McGree, and forwards Marcus Forss and Tommy Conway, who might be glad of this change of approach.
Less optimistically, thereโs the risk that Edwards doesnโt inherit a group of players who are wholly suited to doing what he asks of them, in terms of both style and formation: the former Luton boss favours attacking wing-backs, and the squad has been shaped for 4-2-3-1.
Of the full-backs - Luke Ayling, Neto Borges and Alex Bangura - only the latter would be likely to enjoy a cavalier wing-back role, and he didnโt play a minute last season due to a long-term injury.
Meanwhile, a new partner needs to be found for the tenacious Aidan Morris, with star midfielder Hayden Hackney heavily linked away, along with talented defender Rav van den Berg, who has the better chance of staying.
Middlesbrough might be keen for sales to go through earlier rather than later because, as well as needing to reshape the squad for Edwards, they needed fresh quality either way.
Boro made the questionable decision, in January, to sell two key players โ defender Matt Clarke and top goalscorer Emmanuel Latte Lath โ without replacing either directly.
Meanwhile, star wide forward Ben Doakโs sensational loan from Liverpool was curtailed by injury, and the club havenโt yet been proven to find an adequate replacement for him either.
Thosse exits significantly contributed to the drop from 5th to 10th, which underlines the need to strengthen in order to realistically expect a return to Play-Off contention.
And, while you might think that a team thatโs finished in the top 10 in the last three seasons might be quite reliable, it doesnโt feel that way to natives.
Instead, itโs as if just about everyone in their squad - with the possible exception of Morris - has a high ceiling and a low floor, as if all of them have question marks of different descriptions.
As such, Edwards will need to use all his man management, motivational qualities and charisma to settle on a group he can depend on in his early days, while heโll lean heavily on an experienced assistant in former Coventry coach Adi Viveash on the grass.
So, a cold shower for Middlesbrough it is. Then again, as a certain demographic might say: if you must have a cold shower, youโd want to have it with Rob Edwardsโฆ
11. Stoke City
Mark Robins could be exactly what Stoke City need.
The 55-year-old proved an outstanding manager at Coventry, leading them to two promotions in six seasons and a Championship Play-Off Final, and an extremely reliable influence behind the scenes.
Robins didnโt do loads of coaching with the Midlanders, often deferring in that department to Adi Viveash, instead running the footballing operations at the club really well, overseeing the big picture.
So, at Stoke, heโll lean on talented coaches like Paul Nevin and James Rowberry, while his main USP is that he knows what a successful club looks and feels like, while Stoke are trying to work that out.
Relegated from the Premier League in 2018, the Potters have spent around ยฃ200M under the Coates family in the subsequent seven years, only to remain stuck in the Championshipโs bottom half โ whereas Robins got Coventry into the Play-Offs with a fraction of the resources.
The Staffordshire outfit do have a sporting director in Jonathan Walters, but heโs still learning his craft, and could be glad of an experienced figure to lean on.
So, the prospect of Robins providing leadership to Walters and others, and to a capable, expensively assembled squad, is an appealing one.
Especially, that is, at a club that may have learnt lessons around giving the manager authority, as opposed to succumbing to player power, and so if they can get the culture right, merged with the individual ability, they could be getting somewhere.
The Potters have one of the best shot stoppers in the Championship, for now, in Viktor Johansson, an emerging left-sided duo of Eric Bocat and Bae Jun-Ho, an athletic, high-potential right-back in Junior Tchamadeu, and a creative midfielder in Wouter Burger โ although the latterโs been linked away.
Theyโve added good professionals to that group, too, in Aaron Cresswell, whoโs played 312 Premier League games for West Ham and should be a useful dressing room influence.
Meanwhile, towering centre-back Makysm Talovierov impressed at centre-back with Plymouth Argyle in the second half of last season, and has been good enough to play seven games for the Ukraine.
Meanwhile, theyโve loaned England youth prospect Divin Mubama from Manchester City, where he scored 10 goals in nine PL2 appearances last season for the EDS: quick, strong and potent, the 20-year-old could really light up the Championship.
So, it looks good on paper. Then again, itโs felt that way most summers at Stoke, with the club often guilty of pitching their expectations too high, only to underdeliver.
This time around, itโs all about getting to a 60+ points tally: modest but clear progress is the name of the game.
12. Portsmouth
Much like how the same sight can look slightly different depending on which eye we close, Portsmouthโs 2025-26 prospects are wide open to interpretation.
On the one hand, recent history tells us that second seasons in the Championship can be rather testing.
From 2013 to 2023, 23 of the 30 teams (77%) promoted to this level at least survived in their first season up, whereas only 15 of the 23 (65%) survived again the following season (we included Ipswich), which suggests these campaigns throw up fresh challenges.
And, out of 30 promotions, only Coventry, Luton, Bristol City, Preston North End and Brentford have attained Championship sustainability or better, on a likely bottom half budget.
So, if Portsmouth achieved that, they would be the exception rather than the rule โ then again, head coach John Mousinho has been their exception.
Sporting director Richard Hughes showed great instincts to poach Mousinho from a player/coach role at Oxford in 2023, at a time when many would have questioned his profile.
The intelligent, calculated risk has paid off emphatically, as 2023-24โs League One title win under Mousinho was followed by last seasonโs 16th-place finish in the Championship.
It was a tough start for Pompey, who found themselves five points off safety at the bottom in early November, with some unsure about the summer recruitment, but Colby Bishopโs return from injury changed everything.
Bishop made his first appearance from the bench against Preston North End, scoring a late penalty to secure a 3-1 victory, initiating a remaining home record of 37 points from 17 that only the top two bettered.
The former Accrington Stanley front-man brought a rugged physicality to the attack, a strong aerial presence, an exemplary work ethic, and great link-up and hold-up play: in other words, he was the man who made those capable pieces of the jigsaw all click into place.
So, Mousinho will be keen to retain the group that steadily climbed the table, from that point onwards last season.
Chiefly, goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid, intelligent right-back Zak Swanson, defensive leader Regan Slater, assist-king Josh Murphy, goalscoring forward Callum Lang, and Bishop.
Most will put Connor Ogilvie in that bracket, too, after the stalwart defied his Championship doubters last season to become Pompeyโs most-used player at left-back, starting 45 times, and establishing a nice partnership with Murphy.
With much of the squad in situ, itโs been a quiet summer so far for Hughes and Mousinho, with just two players coming in: winger Adrian Segecic and creator John Swift.
Segecic could be a lovely fit for the teamโs pressing identity, with his passion for running โthroughโ his man, and not necessarily just towards him, which could really feed into the electricity of the atmosphere at Fratton Park.
Conversely, Swift is a familiar name in the Championship, and can bring a volume of class for the level, with his ability to pull the strings and spot through balls, which Mousinho discovered to his cost in Januaryโs 5-1 defeat at West Brom.
Meanwhile, left-back Jacob Farrell could feel like a new signing, after an injury-hit first year, Australia international defender Hayden Matthews is one to watch, while the aggressive Terry Devlinโs rapid progress is highlighted by three 2025 appearances for Northern Ireland.
So, this is a well-run club with an excellent sporting director, a talented head coach, and an up-and-coming squad with one or two experienced heads, that plays a high-intensity style that only adds to the Fortress Fratton feel.
Donโt underestimate Portsmouthโฆ they could be a top half proposition.
13. Bristol City
Bristol Cityโs highest finish since 2008 was a reward for four years of financial and cultural progress.
Rewind back to when Nigel Pearson was appointed, in 2021, and the club had suffered from an era of overspending, they didnโt have a clear identity, and had a group of players who were mostly either flaky or injury-prone.
Thanks to the foundations Pearson laid, the work of Liam Manning to build on them, and key player sales, City are now in a more stable economic position, and a hardworking, tight-knit group.
Then again, the transition from Manning, who left for the Norwich job this summer, to replacement Gerhard Struber, may not be entirely seamless.
Manning likes balanced, disciplined teams that look after the ball, and have a streetwise out-of-possession approach; theyโre not averse to engaging, but theyโll only do so at the designated moments.
Struber, on the other hand, doesnโt mind sailing close to the wind. Dare we say, the 48-year-old even welcomes a degree of out-of-possession chaos.
For instance, if a defender in his team applies successful pressure on a forward, heโd be happy for that player to then go and follow in on his opponent, and even challenge up to the opposing half, backing the teammates to rearrange themselves accordingly to cover the gaps.
That approach worked well at Barnsley, but partly because he succeeded another pressing coach in Daniel Stendel, so the squad was already moulded for his ideology: at Bristol City, thatโs only partially true.
On the one hand, Struber does have midfielder Jason Knight, who covers a lot of distance, and was also, by some distance, Player of the Year last season.
Elsewhere, agile Albanian Anis Mehmeti has learnt some out-of-possession principles from Gareth Ainsworth at Wycombe, which could make him malleable to the Austrian coachโs ideas.
Meanwhile, the likes of defender Zak Vyner, midfielder Joe Williams, winger Yu Hirakawa, and athletic forward Sinclair Armstrong are among the players who might adjust well to the new instructions.
Plus, thereโs midfielder Max Bird, who may or may not acclimatize entirely, but will bring plenty of creativity either way, with the former Derby man being strong on either foot.
On the other hand, a centre-back like Rob Dickie, for example, is very strong in certain areas but has a slow turn of pace, and could be uncomfortable with the high defensive line.
Struber has, though, been backed to bring in industrious midfielder Adam Randell, and striker Emil Riis Jakobsen, who do look natural fits.
So, on the one hand, thereโs plenty of optimism remaining from last seasonโs Play-Off finish, the fact that the clubโs in a better position off the field, and has found a clear vision with which to move forward.
On the other hand, though, this could be a bit of an adjustment for some of a group that somewhat overachieved last season, helped by the bar for the top six being on the low side.
A drop-off feels plausible, and to some extent acceptable, as long as Struber finishes the season with a core of players, with whom he can build his methods around.
14. Derby County
The last three years have seen John Eustace go from being an unknown quantity, at Championship level to, pound-for-pound, one of the best managers in the division.
The 45-year-old did great work at Birmingham and Blackburn, but was infamously sacked by the former, and left the latter over communicational challenges, so now he has the platform to show what he can do across a full season, in a more stable environment.
Eustace kept Derby up last season, too, delivering 21 points from his 14 games in charge, form that would put them in the Play-Offs over a full campaign.
Doing that when everythingโs on the line isnโt the same as doing it for 46 games, of course, but Eustace does have previous โ and heโs added experience to the group.
Aerial centre-back Danny Batth, versatile forward Andreas Weimann and industrious target man Carlton Morris all head to Pride Park with plenty of Championship knowhow.
Meanwhile, forward Patrick Agyemang joins to bring quality in attack, after scoring 17 MLS goals in 59 for Charlotte, and reaching the Final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with America.
In terms of remaining personnel, the Rams can rely on goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrรถm, attacking right-back Kane Wilson, dependable centre-backs Sondre Langas and Matt Clarke, powerful midfielder Ebou Adams, and the more cultured Kenzo Goudmijn.
Progress could be limited slightly by the aging profile of the squad, though, which the recruitment does little to alter.
Another dogfight is unlikely, though, with Eustace at the helm: midtable beckons.
15. Swansea City
Ironically, at a club with a fanzine called โA Touch Far Vetchedโ, Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg are now shareholders at Swansea City.
Supporters werenโt thrilled with the previous ownership regime, but Modric and Snoop Doggโs involvements highlight an ability, from Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Nigel Morris and Jason Cohen, to attract high-profile people to the club and market it well.
Meanwhile, there have been improvements on the pitch, since the dismissal of Luke Williams in February, with Alan Sheehan delivering 24 points from his 13 games in charge as caretaker - only the top two enjoyed a better record in that timeframe.
Some of the early excitement around Sheehan should be tempered, given that heโs never managed before, and began his coaching career recently through his contacts, as opposed to totally from scratch, a decade or two ago.
Thatโs not his fault, of course: heโs thus far done an absolutely marvellous job with the South Wales outfit, bringing a tactical adaptability and humble leadership.
So, whether Sheehan can deliver close to that form over a full campaign is to be seen, but thereโs a good core in place, in goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, attacking right-back Josh Key, physical centre-back Ben Cabango and dynamic midfielder Gonรงalo Franco.
The Swans have added to that, with the signing of robust defender Cameron Burgess, elusive playmaker Ethan Galbraith and Swedish winger Zeidane Inoussa.
However, cultured defender Harry Darling could be a sizeable loss, especially from a ball-playing perspective, while itโs still to be confirmed whether all-action midfielder Lewis OโBrien will return to South Wales, after a successful loan spell last season.
Plus, much though their style in the second half of 2024-25 didnโt always require a deep-lying playmaker, they still havenโt directly replaced Matt Grimes.
Fancy a game, Luka?
16. Blackburn Rovers
Almost everything about the modern era of Blackburn Rovers feels contradictory and confusing.
The Lancashire outfit are badly run by the Venkys, who have let many facets of the club fall to the wayside due to their passive non-leadership, with operational responsibility placed in arguably the wrong hands, of sporting director Rudy Gestede and COO Suhail Pasha Shaikh.
The Indian conglomerates donโt care enough about the club to provide any kind of transparency or stability, and yet they still put money in every year, as opposed to selling up.
So, quite why theyโre clinging on โ and who, precisely, is benefiting from that โ is a mystery that even Scooby Doo would struggle to unravel.
Somehow, the oddities donโt end there. Since their instant return to the second-tier under Tony Mowbray in 2017-18, Rovers have managed four top half finishes in seven seasons, with only one dice with the drop, in 2023-24.
So, theyโre badly run as a structural entity, yet have still been capable of having positive seasons because of good managers, the odd emerging talent from a productive academy, and star forwards who grab all the goals.
It feels like a highly unsustainable model though, that seems to have been fortuitously propped up here-and-there by individual people, and it may not be that long before the luck runs out.
We must remind ourselves, of course, that we are also talking about a team that finished 7th last season, missing out on the Play-Offs on the final day, and has retained nine of the 11 players who started at least half their league games.
Namely, goalkeeper Aynsley Pears, energetic right-back Callum Brittain, ever-present centre-back Dom Hyam, the Travstad midfield, winger Ryan Hedges, enigmatic creator Todd Cantwell, industrious forward Yuki Ohashi and 6โ5โ front-man Makhtar Gueye.
Plus, even thatโs without factoring in the form of Hungarian stopper Balรกzs Tรณth, who fared superbly in the final six games of last season after coming in for Pears, while young full-backs Leo Duru and Jake Batty could have opportunities to kick on from encouraging loans.
Meanwhile, watch out for England U17s prospect Igor Tyjon, who scored one and made two on his U21s debut for Blackburn at the age of just 15 and, now 17, could be set for some minutes from the bench.
So, with 6โ2โ right-back Ryan Alebiosu and versatile wide man Dion De Neve signing from Kortrijk, and versatile midfielder Sidnei Tavares joining from Moreirense, thereโs some room for optimism.
Head coach Valรฉrien Ismaรซlโs aggressive, high-pressing style will suit some but not others, though, in a squad that overachieved last season, primarily under John Eustace.
As such, regression to the bottom half would come as little surprise, while the off-field status quo remains.
17. Wrexham
Of the 24 teams in the Championship this season, Wrexham are the hardest to predict โ simply because their story is so unique.
In the entire history of the professional domestic game, no team has ever won back-to-back-to-back promotions before the Red Dragons, giving neutrals no yardstick for what to expect.
On the one hand, the Welsh outfit are a global brand, and with that comes significant financial resources, which have enabled the signings of New Zealand international left-back Liberato Cacace, from Empoli, and industrious striker Ryan Hardie, from Plymouth Argyle.
More will surely follow, too, with second striker Josh Windass reportedly in advanced talks, after top scoring with 13 for Sheffield Wednesday last season.
On the other hand, the unprecedented speed of their growth brings challenges at this level, especially if they want to do more than survive.
Of course, thereโs no reason at all that survival wouldnโt be a great achievement, certainly from an external perspective and perhaps from the fanbaseโs too โ although co-owner Rob McElhenney said he doesnโt know the meaning of consolidation.
So, evolve the squad steadily and theyโd retain a fantastic team spirit, but maybe not elevate the quality to a level consistent with the โAlways Sunnyโ starโs lofty ambitions.
Alternatively, revolve it radically and theyโd end up with comfortably a top half squad on paper, because of their spending power, but maybe without the team spirit that boss Phil Parkinson believes to be so important.
Whatโs most likely, perhaps, is some combination of the two; a firm lean towards the former school of thought, preserving the synergy of the group, but with a few marquee additions to take things up a notch.
Whereas previously, theyโve been able to whizz up the leagues, however, the Championship is a level they might have to navigate in managed phases, and it may take a realism and an alignment from the board in order to meet their targets step by step.
They do have a group of players more than good enough for this level, though, in strong shot-stopper Arthur Okonkwo, talented defender Max Cleworth, all-action midfielder Oli Rathbone, experienced sitter Matty James and stylish finisher Sam Smith.
Meanwhile, wing-backs Ryan Longman and James McClean bring second-tier knowhow, plus ball-playing defender Lewis Brunt has plenty of growth potential.
So, recruit a dominant middle centre-back and a quality #10, and Wrexham should have what it takes to consolidate at this level, forcing McElhenney to buy a Welsh dictionary, and add โcydlynuโ to his vocabulary.
*Talk of the town, Wrexham couldn't do it again could they? Coral offer the best odds for them to win the Championship at 33/1, and 7/1 to be promoted. You can get more about this brand by reading our Coral review where we take an in depth look at their service.
18. Queens Park Rangers
QPRโs chances of building on last seasonโs 15th-place finish depend on what we judge to be the primary reason for them not finishing lower: basis of Martรญ Cifuentesโ excellent management, or the merits of their squad?
CEO Christian Nourry might argue, having placed Cifuentes on gardening leave for speaking to other clubs before he moved to Leicester, that theyโve recruited well of late - and thereโs validity to that.
Last summer, the Rs signed shot-stopper Paul Nardi, cultured defender Liam Morrison, talented midfielders Kieran Morgan and Jonathan Varane, as well as diminutive creators Koki Saito and Karamoko Dembรฉlรฉ on loan, with the latter subsequently joining permanently.
In other words, six or seven senior signings of the 11 from that window enhanced the team, which is a great hit rate, and they added to that in January.
Classy defender Ronnie Edwards made a real impact on loan from Southampton, while theyโve also made long-term investments in left-back Esquerdinha and attacking midfielder Harvey Vale, both of international youth pedigree, with Brazil and England respectively.
Thereโs more optimism to come from this summer, too, with recent Senegal U23s defender Amadou Mbengue and left-footed creator Kwame Poku stepping up from League One, having starred with Reading and Peterborough respectively.
Meanwhile, the club has shopped in the Australian market with the signings of right-back Kealey Adamson and attacking midfielder Jaylan Pearman, with both seen as potential assets themselves.
On top of that, the Hoops also have some reliable operators, in centre-back-turned-right-back Jimmy Dunne, Player of the Year last season, and left-footed midfield battler Sam Field.
As much as the individual players Nourry has recruited have been of a decent standard, though, he didnโt assemble an especially balanced squad, with a lack of pace, height and physicality in certain areas, and a lack of quality up top.
Aspects of that have been addressed this summer, but it still looks a weak set of striker options, albeit strengthened by Charlie Kelmanโs return from a highly successful loan at Leyton Orient, where he top-scored in League One.
Furthermore, thereโs the possibility that the imbalances in the squad, including a fair drop-off from a 10-14 group of players comfortably good enough for this level to the rest, might be exacerbated without Cifuentesโ management, depending on how good Julien Stรฉphan turns out to be.
Stรฉphan did great work in his first stint at Rennes, and initially at Strasbourg but, for whatever reason, he hasnโt had everything his own way in more recent years.
So, with Stรฉphan being a domestic unknown quantity, for now, QPR could feasibly finish a few places lower than last season, even whilst improving in other areas.
19. Oxford United
Rowett = Championship survival.
Ok, not technically true - the former defender actually suffered relegation in his second stint at Birmingham - but that was with 11 points from his eight league games in charge, form that gets you top half across a full campaign.
So, itโs close enough for us to go with it, especially if weโre talking about full seasons, or reasonable chunks of time within them, with the 51-year-old at the helm.
In Rowettโs 399 league games as a manager at this level, his teams have conceded no goals or one on 270 (68% of) occasions, while across those 11 years, theyโve have never lost more than three on the spin.
The 51-year-oldโs organisational nous means his teams will take something from most games, and know how to strip things back in difficult moments, simplify the game, and do whatโs required to grind out a result.
We saw that last season when - albeit in somewhat cruel circumstances, where Des Buckinghamโs concerned - Rowett steadied the ship.
From the former defenderโs December appointment, the Yellows took 35 points from 26 games, losing just nine of them which, with an April scalp against Sheffield United along the way, steered them four points clear of the bottom three.
So, 2025-26 is about maintaining those solid foundations, which means retaining or replacing their loans: talented centre-back Ben Nelson from Leicester, and destructive midfielder Alex Matos from Chelsea.
Either way, a steady group remains, in star goalkeeper Jamie Cumming, intelligent defender Ciaron Brown, aerial centre-back Michaล Helik, midfield all-rounder Cameron Brannagan and hardworking striker Mark Harris.
On top of that spine are speedster Przemysลaw Pลacheta and dribbler Tyler Goodrham, with the latter set to take on the creative baton, as the most exciting academy product of the clubโs modern era.
Meanwhile, talented centre-back Stephan Negru and nicely-rounded left-back Jack Currie return after positive loan spells in League Two and League One respectively, with the latter giving himself a great chance of making the position his own.
While Rowettโs around, Oxford wonโt go too far wrong.
20. Watford
Thereโs a fair logical case for Watford to secure a top half berth, after a 14th-place finish last season, and thereโs also a fair instinctive one for them to go down.
On the one hand, the Hornets were involved in the Play-Off scramble for much of last season, with a squad weaker than this one looks.
Whereas their recruitment in summer 2024 seemed ropey, giving Tom Cleverley what some regarded to be a bottom six squad, this year it looks improved, with Vivaldo Semedo poached from Pozzo-owned Udinese.
The 20-year-old is a recent Portugal U19s prospect, who scored nine goals in 15 starts in Liga Portugal 2, on loan at Vizela; an instinctive finisher with great movement, the speedy 6โ4โ striker could be quite the handful.
Meanwhile, Luca Kjerrumgaard joins on loan, also from Udinese, with an obligation to buy; the recent Denmark U21s poacher scored 17 goals in 23 in the Danish 1st Division (2nd tier) for OB last season, demonstrating the ability to score all different types of goals.
Another exciting prospect, winger Othmane Maamma, joins to bring the excitement factor, especially in 1v1s; while, he may be used from the bench initially, like he was at Montpellier last season, heโs regarded as one of the best U20 players in Morocco.
Perhaps most exciting of all, meanwhile, is the capture of Nestory Irankunda, who signed for Bayern as recently as last summer, after thriving for Adelaide United; the versatile forward has already made five senior appearances for Australia, at the age of 19.
So, recent Ireland U21s defender James Abankwah returns on loan, with goalkeeper Nathan Baxter, left-back Marc Bola and midfielder Hector Kyprianou hitching up, with the recruits joining a group developing nicely.
Brave defender Mattie Pollock, creative midfielder Imran Louza, incisive withdrawn forward Rocco Vata, plus impressive ball-carriers Georgi Chakvetadze and Kwadwo Baah will be hoping to take their games up that extra level, after progressing under Tom Cleveley.
On the other hand, however, thereโs a palpable disconnect between the club and the fanbase, based primarily on the Pozzo familyโs cynical non-leadership of the club.
The decision to dismiss the hugely popular Cleverley, which in itself was questionable given last seasonโs progress, was revealed on the day that the renewal for season tickets closed.
Under the Pozzos, fans seem to be treated as though they only matter when it comes to putting money into the club, and not as human beings with feelings that are important, who deserve real, honest and direct communication.
And so, while this disconnect exists, it could undermine their otherwise exciting plans to develop these high-potential players; the environment around the place might not be hugely nurturing, or conducive to development, because of what the owners have caused.
Plus, theyโve appointed a head coach in Paulo Pezzolano who has positive reviews from his time at Cruzeiro, in Brazil, but mixed feedback from his tenure at Spanish side Valladolid, with some suggesting a lack of adaptability.
So, is this the start of an exciting, developmental project, with Championship stars set to emerge in front of our very eyes?
Or, is this a fractured club that will self-combust the moment the going gets tough?
Weโre about to find outโฆ
21. Charlton Athletic
Perhaps the most unnerving thing about Charlton Athletic, right now, is that theyโre a well-run club.
After the chaos of the last decade, the Addicks have finally found some much-needed stability in SE7 Partners, with the club being run by people, like chairman Gavin Carter, who only want the best for it.
It doesnโt sound like a lot, does it, when we say it like that? But this is the kind of tranquillity Addicks have been craving for the best part of two decades.
The dramatics, then, are confined to the dugout, where Nathan Jones has done a fantastic job to keep the South Londoners up from a tight spot in 2023-24, then lead them to promotion via the Play-Offs in the Welshmanโs first full season at the helm.
With 10 outfield players starting 32+ league games last season, the Addicks enjoyed a nicely settled XI, especially in the second half of the campaign, with the group establishing a synergy that could be valuable to their bid for survival.
In defence, athletic right-back Kayne Ramsay, aerial centre-back Lloyd Jones, his reliable partner, Macauley Gillesphey, and energetic left-back Josh Edwards, have already forged a great understanding, knowing their distances inside out.
Itโs the same with composed Coventry, dynamic Docherty and lung-busting Berry in midfield, likewise speedy wide forward Tyreece Campbell and industrious front-man Matty Godden in attack: thereโs partnerships and units everywhere you look.
Then, thereโs the likes of defender Alex Mitchell, midfielder Karoy Anderson and striker Miles Leaburn, who might not have been regular starters last season, for different reasons, but are all - in their early 20s - at a great age to grow with the step up.
More on the back-burner, meanwhile, are prospects like forwards Micah Mbick and Jaheim Dixon, who could be ones to watch by 2026-27.
Mbick scored over 40 goals across three different age groups in 2023-24, and inked a three-plus-one-year contract in the summer, with a view to a loan move.
Dixon, meanwhile, lobbed a goalkeeper from near the corner flag for the U21s last season, nearly assisted with a back-heel on his senior debut against Stockport, and featured for Jamaica in June.
Jones has added to the squad further, too, with the signings of experienced goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, defenders Reece Burke and Amariโi Bell, utility man Joe Rankin-Costello, direct winger Rob Apter, creator Sonny Carey, and athletic forward Isaac Olaofe.
Itโs a big step up for Charlton, but this tight-knit group should pull together, and get over the survival line - by hook and no crook.
22. Preston North End
โItโs obvious what needs to happen. Change or be changed. Thatโs it. How much is possible wonโt be determined by me. Right now, how I feel, Iโd throw a bomb under the lot and start again. Thatโs what Iโd do, but I donโt think Iโll be able to do that, so itโs going to be hard work.โ
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom was very scathing of his players, last season, ahead of Aprilโs 2-1 defeat at Hull, during a closing return of three points from eight games that nearly cost the club their Championship status.
On the one hand, thereโs a significant group of the fanbase that appreciate Heckingbottomโs candour, and see him as somebody who can reinvigorate the club, whilst viewing the problems to lie with Peter Ridsdale in the boardroom.
Managers who speak their mind, and wear their heart on their sleeve, can build a real connection with supporters which, in the right circumstances, can serve as a bedrock for successful eras.
Yet, if we ask the question: were those words politically advisable? The answer is surely no.
Partly because North End were in a relegation dogfight at the time, and Heckingbottom needed those players he wanted to throw a bomb under, and partly because โ as he, himself, intimated โ heโd only have so much control over the evolution of the squad.
12 of the players who were at the club at the time he made those comments, and had featured under him, heโs no longer working with, with four departing loans, three sales and five players released โ but 15 of them are still there, which makes motivation challenging.
Sure, there might be a minority of that group who are inspired to prove a point, but most people would prefer to be, primarily, encouraged and believed in by their manager.
Whereas, the position Heckingbottom has put himself in, is that either he tries to motivate those players now heโs contractually obliged to, which may feel hollow to some of them, or he doesnโt try to motivate them, and the atmosphere feels awkward.
More simplistically, the very fact that the manager went to the extent of saying what he did in April, might tell us how useful some of those players are going to be - motivated or not.
PNE will have to be carried, then, to some extent by their recruitment, with goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, right-sided defender Odel Offiah, wing-backs Pol Valentรญn and Thierry Small, plus striker Daniel Jebbison arriving at Deepdale.
The signings of the vigorously tenacious Offiah, and the skilfully inventive Small offer encouragement, after both starred in League One last season with Blackpool and Charlton respectively โ theyโre ready for the step up.
At the same time, itโs so far been the kind of window that might lightly touch up an already competitive squad, but not one substantial enough to deliver a rebuild of the required volume and quality.
In other words, theyโve added a decorative flag to a sandcastle thatโs just been knocked over.
23. Hull City
Initially, Acun Ilฤฑcalฤฑ looked a breath of fresh air to Hull City.
With early investment in the playing squad and infrastructure, plenty of communication, and all-expenses paid pre-season trips to Turkey for fans, โThe Turkish Simon Cowellโ was judged favourably early on.
Since making it to bootcamp, however, a combination of muddled recruitment, poor decisions over managers, reported conflict with CEO Tan Kesler, delays to transfer payment and player wages, has supporters questioning his capability for the next stage.
Moreover, the media mogul has been keen to publicly downplay the issues, which has the advantage of not devaluing players to suitors who might otherwise pay full whack, and the disadvantage of leaving fans feeling like their concerns arenโt being listened to, or taken responsibility for.
A tough situation, then, for new head coach Sergej Jakiroviฤ to come into, and the Bosnian will have to apply every bit of the flexibility heโs shown in his managerial career so far, by Humberside.
The variety of the jobs Jakiroviฤ has had so far should help him, then: the 48-year-old has successfully managed dominant forces, like Maribor and Dinamo in Slovenia and Croatia respectively, but also underdogs like Kayserispor in Turkey last season.
โAnadolu Yฤฑldฤฑzฤฑโ were third-bottom of the Sรผper Lig when he took charge in January, with only crisis club Adana Demirspor having shipped more goals than them (39 in 19) yet, then onwards, only three teams conceded fewer (18 in 17), as the team climbed to 13th.
As such, Jakiroviฤ will bring valuable organisational nous, and an ability to adapt to what he has available, with a loose preference for a dynamic 4-2-3-1 with physicality in midfield and pace to burn on either flank.
With that in mind, thereโs a possibility that Jakiroviฤ will make this work, assisted by Dean Holden, who faced him in Turkey last season on the opposition bench, bringing an excellent coaching profile and Championship knowledge.
So, if he can settle on a reliable core in goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, driven right-back Lewie Coyle, aggressive centre-back Alfie Jones, his talented partner Charlie Hughes, and all-action midfielder Charlie Regan, they could grind out some results.
Meanwhile, Morocco U20s prospect Reda Laalaoui could be one to watch, with the high-octane, box-to-box midfielder signing from FUS Rabat in his native country.
While the step up to the Championship will be significant, the Botola Pro is a stronger league than might be assumed, with the standard of domestic football growing in North Africa.
So, thereโs positives for Hull, but overall itโs a messy squad that hasnโt been assembled with a clear strategy.
City stayed up on the final day last season due to events elsewhere, and can only have improved so much this summer, after an imposed transfer embargo.
So, while Jakiroviฤ and Holden might be able to start the healing process, itโs likelier to be a season dominated and defined by off-field concerns.
24. Sheffield Wednesday
The progress Sheffield Wednesday have made on the pitch, over the last 21 months, has ultimately been rather futile.
Danny Rรถhl has done fantastic work to lift a club in crisis, from the awful start to 2023-24 under Xisco Muรฑoz, keeping Wednesday up that season, before leading them to a top half finish in 2024-25 with a limited squad.
While itโs been nice for fans to enjoy a well-coached team thatโs played some good football, however, itโs served only as temporary respite, a mere distraction, from the big, fundamental issue that looms over the club: Dejphon Chansiri.
Although the Thai businessmanโs mismanagement has been more of an unwanted subplot for much of Rรถhlโs reign, this summer, the circus has reclaimed centre stage.
Players and staff, including non-playing, didnโt receive their wages on time, for both March and May, yet Chansiri has meanwhile rejected bids for the club from a US consortium, and communicated vaguely to the fans, with no sign of apology.
Itโs easy to see how Rรถhl might have grown despondent with everything, although some have questioned his handling of the situation, banking on a move that hasnโt materialized.
Either way, it seems unlikely that the talented German coach will start the season in charge, despite having recently returned to training, with his current assistant, Henrik Pedersen, looking the likelier candidate.
If it is Pedersen taking the reigns, though, heโll have to manage a depleted squad thatโs seen 11 senior departures this summer, for obvious reasons, and likely many more to follow.
Right-back Liam Palmer will probably stay, with the 33-year-old being a one-club man, and fellow stalwart Barry Bannan, whoโs still been training with the club even while out of contract, with a view to sorting something out if possible.
Other than that, the only players who would actively like the idea of staying could be youngsters like defender Gabriel Otegbayo, midfielders Sean Fusire and Rio Shipston, plus forwards Charlie McNeill and Bailey Cadamarteri: players who might not otherwise get the immediate platform to show what they can do at Championship level.
Similarly, powerful, left-footed striker George Brown may get some minutes in a season that, organically, the 18-year-old would have spent out on loan in non-league.
Conversely, thereโs an outside possibility that a takeover happens in the next month, if parties move quickly, leaving room for a glut of signings at the end of the window that could give them a sniff โ but that feels unlikely.
And, even then, it would be a bit like having a pre-season in September, so thereโs no conceivable scenario in which the Owls have a good chance of staying up. So, a long-term, sustainable future for the club, away from Chansiri, is the primary focus: the outcome of this season feels both inevitable, and secondary.
*With all the troubles surrounding Sheffield Wednesday, it's no surprise to see The Owls odds on to make a return to League One, and they're as short as 4/7 with bet365 to go down this season.
Championship Winner Odds
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Championship Relegation Odds
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